strength of thy grace I have both kept the true faith and have fought for my King the Lora's Anointed's cause without any wavering for which and in which I die I do willingly resign my flesh I despise the World and I defie the Devil who hath no part nor share in me And now what is my hope my hope Lord Jesu is even in thee for I know that thou my Redeemer livest and that thou wilt immediately receive my soul and raise up my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other And now O Lord let thy Spirit of comfort help mine infirmities and make supplication for me with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed I submit my self wholly to thy will I commit my soul to thee as my faithful Redeemer who hast bought it with thy most precious blood I confess to all the world I know no name under heaven by which I may be saved but thine my Jesu my Saviour I renounce all confidence in any merits save thine I thank fully acknowledge all thy blessings I unfeignedly bewail all my sins I stedfastly believe all thy promises I heartily forgive all my Enemies I willingly leave all my Friends I utterly loath all earthly comforts and I entirely long for thy coming Come Lord Jesus come quickly Lord Jesus receive my Spirit The private were to himself his Hat being before his eyes After this he put up divers short Ejaculations As I know my Redeemer liveth Father into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redeemed it O God thou God of truth Lord Jesus receive my spiriâ— and many of the like and so he yielded to Death The Speech of Coronet Michael Blackbourn immediately before his death August 23. 1649. It is expected I should say somethingâ— and indeed it is my desire to say something and but a little I Am not a Gentleman by birth but my Parents are of an honest quality and condition I was brought up in the Protestant Religion and in that Religion I have lived and in that I now dy I have some five or six years since engaged in this War wherein I had no other end or intention but to do my King true and faithful service according to my duty and the dictate of my Conscience I have not done so much service as I desired but I have been always faithful to him and wish I could have done him more and for his Son the King that now is I wonder any man of this Kingdom should have the boldness or impudence to life up his hand against him to keep him from his Crown whereof he is Heir apparent and hath as good right and title to it by his Birth-right as any man living hath of his Inheritance or Possession I pray God bless him forgive all my Enâ—mies and Lord Jesus receive my Spirit Dr. Levens executed at the Old Exchange London the 18. of July 1650. THis learned Gentleman was descended of an antient family in Oxford-shire whose chief seat and residence was near Botley within a mile of the Universitie His education was truly generous his profession the Civil Law wherein he was graduated a Doctor and in which he was excellently known before these Wars But when these uncivil broils began he laid aside the practice of that Law which was not onely silenced by the depression and annihilation of the Hierarchy in whose Courts it is most generally used but also despair'd of for any future resuscitation during the Troubles and he took himself to the service of his Sovereign then most unlawfully and uncivilly assaulted and affronted by the Members at Westminster He continued most part of the War in the Garâ—ison at Oxford and his own adjacent dwelling till such time as the surrender of the said City into the hands of the Parliament where he had the same terms and was concluded in the Articles of that Capitulation which being forced to accept and lay down his arms he again resumed his wonted studies From these he was again avocated by those monstrous and horrid actions of those times which indulged not any man his private concerns in the danger and trouble of the publick nor could he forsake or desert his first cause with its fortune and serve the times by a base and abject indifferency He had to the infinite distraction of his mind and trouble of his soul seen the barbarous Regicide perpetrated upon the life of his Sovereign the Royal Family renounced and banished all the friends thereof in most eminent danger to be destroyed and undone for adhehering to them and the Laws in the late War the Church and State renversed and a sad confusion and ruine of the Kingdom unless obviated by Providence and means therewith used to be impendent and unavoidable Upon these and the like considerations this Gentleman very considerable in his numerous acquaintance prudence and integrity became engaged for the Son our present Sovereign as before for his Royal Father several consultations and private meetings were held by him and others in order to this service to which purpose he also received Commissions from the King then in France for several Officers of these Forces designed to be raised and other Instructions as the affair proceeded The Common-wealth as it was then called was in its infancy which made its politick Guardians very cautious and jealous of attempts upon it the Kings interest was no whit the less formidable because his person was beyond the Sea the just indignation and noble anger of his Subjects being ready to boil over upon any sudden motion they had also so oppressed the generality of the people with grievous insupportable Taxes that they might well fear and suspect some more forcible and prosperous enterprise against them by how much their impâ—eties and high provocations had further incensed both heaven and earth Therefore they employed their Emissaries and Spies to give them intelligence if any such designs were on foot and so to countermine all plots against them Their sagacious industry in this soon answered their expectation for these flies prying up and down engaging in all companies assimulating themselves to their complexion opinion and study light at last upon some glimpses of this business which they followed so close that at last they made a perfect and full discovery of the main businesse and that this Doctor Levens was the chief Agitator and manager thereof in whose breast the Cabal was principally lodged and entrusted and upon whose apprehension they might be informed and satisfied in every circumstance An Order was thereupon made by the Council of State and a Warrant signed by Bradshaw the President to seize and bring him before them and to search his Chamber and break up his Trunks for papers he then being at London the place most expedient for the design which accordingly was done a file or two of Musketeers guarding and securing the house where the said Papers were among which
is a Fundamental Law of the English liberty that no Free-man shall be taken or imprisoned without cause shewn or be detained without being brought unto his Answer in due form of Law yet here we saw a Freeman imprisoned ten whole weeks together before any Charge was brought against him and kept in prison three years more before his general Accusation was by them reduced into particulars and for a year almost detained close prisoner without being brought unto his answer as the Law requires It is a Fundamental Law of the English Government that no man be disseised of his Freehold or Liberties but by the known Laws of the Land yet here was a man disseised of his Rents and Lands spoyled of his Goods deprived of his jurisdiction devested of his Right and Patronage and all this done when he was so far from being convicted by the Laws of the Land that no particular charge was so much as thought of It is a Fundamental Law of the English Liberty that no man shall be condemned or put to death but by lawful judgment of his Peers or by the Law of the Land i. e. in the ordinary way of a legal tryal and sure an Ordinance of both Houses without the Royal Assent is no part of the Law of England nor held an ordinary way of trial for the English subject or ever reckoned to be such in the former times And finally it is a Fundamental Law in the English Government that if any other case than those recited in the Statute of King Edward 3. which is supposed to be Treason do happen before any of his Majesties Justices the Justices shall tarry without giving judgment till the cause be shewn and declared before the King and His Parliament whether it ought to be judged Treason or not yet here we had a new found Treason never known before nor declared such by any of His Majesties Justices nor ever brought to be considered of by the King and His Parliament but only voted to be such by some of those few Members which remained at Westminster who were resolved to have it so for their private ends Put all which hath been said together and then tell me truly if there by any difference for I see not any between the ancient Roman slaves and the once Free-born Subjects of the English Nation whose lives and liberties whose goods and fortunes depend on the meer pleasure of their mighty Masters But to return unto our Story the passing of the Ordinance being made known unto him he neither entertained the news with a Stoical Apathy nor wailed his Fate with weak and womanish Lamentations to which Extreams most men are carried in this case but heard it with so even and so smooth a temper as shewed he neither was afraid to live nor ashamed to die The time between the Sentence and the Execution he spent in Prayers and applications to the Lord his God having obtained though not without some difficulty a Chaplain of his own to attend upon him and to assist him in the work of his preparation though little preparation needed to receive that Blow which could not but be welcom because long expected For so well was he studied in the Art of dying especially in the last and strictest part of his Imprisonment that by continual Fasting Watching Prayers and such like Acts of Christian Humiliation his flesh was rarified into Spirit and the whole man so fitted for eternal Glories that he was more then half in heaven before death brought his bloudy but triumphant Chariot to convey him thither He that had been so long a Confessor could not but think it a release of miseries to be made a Martyr And as it is recorded of Alexander the great that the night before his best and greatest Battel with Darius the Persian he fell into so sound a sleep that his Princes hardly could awake him when the Morning came so is is certified of this great Prelate that on the Evening before his Passeover the night before the dismal combat betwixt him and death after he had refreshed his spirits with a moderate Supper he betook himself unto his rest and slept very soundly till the time came in which his Servants were appointed to attend his Rising a most assured sign of a Soul prepared The fatal morning being come he first applied himself to his private Prayers and so continued till Penington and other of their publick Officers came to conduct him to the Scaffold which he ascended with so brave a courage such a cheerful countenance as if he had mounted rather to behold a triumph then to be made a Sacrifice and came not there to die but to be translated And to say Truth it was no Scaffold but a Throne a Throne whereon he shortly was to receive a Crown even the most glorious Crown of Martyrdom And though some rude uncivil people reviled him as he passed along with opprobrious Language as loath to let him go to the Grave in peace it never discomposed his thoughts nor disturbed his patience For he had profited so well in the School of Christ that when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously And as he did not fear the Frowns so neither did he cover the applause of the vulgar Herd and therefore rather chose to read what he had to speak unto the People then to affect the Ostentation either of memory or wit in that dreadful Agony whether with greater Magnanimity or Prudence I can hardly say As for the matter of his Speech besides what did concern himself and his own purgation his great care was to clear His Majesty and the Church of England from any inclination unto Popery with a persivasion of the which the Authors of our then miseries had abused the People and made them take up Arms against their Soveraign approving himself a faithful Servant to the last By means whereof as it is said of Samson in the Book of Judges that the men which he slew at his death were more then they which he slew in his Life so may it be affirmed of this famous Prelate that he gave a greater blow unto the enemies of God and the King at the hour of his Death then he had given them in his whole life before But this you will more clearly see by the Speech it self which followeth here according to the best and most perfect Copies The Speech of the L. Archbishop of Canterbury spoken at his Death upon the Scaffold on the Tower-hill Jan. 10. 1644. Good People THis is an uncomfortable time to preach yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture Heb. 12.2 Let us run with patience that Race which is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of
but filled with the scornful Reproofs of the Proud by reproaches and such like rancorous Language was ready to die that Morning of his Execution For being a man of a magnanimous Spirit a large Soul and of great employments was more sensible of Indignities so that fitting by his Wife that Morning and leaning on her Breast he fell into a swoon and probably had then departed but that the shrieks and outcries of his Wife recalled him to a more Glorious Death that so Posterity might read his Name with Mr. Bowchers not in the Catalogue of Confessors but enrolled in the Noble Army of Martyrs The time of their Execution was concealed for fear the City should oppose so bloody a Fact but when the Fatal day was come Fiennes drew his Forces into the Marish the common place where they make their Musters and then suddenly caused the Gates to be shut drew Horse and Foot into every street of the City to awe the Citizens and to suppress Insurrections which the Indignity and affront offered to two of their most eminent Fellow-Citizens whose Crime was nothing else but Loyalty might incite them to especially if they should consider that an Issue of Bloud was that day opened that might in the end prove fatal to them and involve them in the same condition if they should see those Persons led to the slaughter and they stand like Sheep and not oppose it for if Fiennes and his Blood-hounds should for any other Vertue as well as Loyalty pass the same Sentence on any of them who should defend them who having refused the Kings Protection are grown so tame as not to venture their Lives for themselves All things being thus made secure the Prisoners are brought from the Castle to the Main Court of Guard being saluted all the way thither by the people who pressed with hazard enough to see and take leave of these Martyrs who would have asserted their Liberty they likewise returned hearty thanks for their dangerous Expressions of their Affections it being a sin next to Malignancy to own them or pray for them To fit themselves for their ends they desired they might have the assistance of Mr. Toogood and Mr. Standfast two Orthodox and pious Ministers of that City to sweeten the Cup they were ready to drink but this Christian Request was most unchristianly denied them and two Ministers of the Faction designed for their miserable Comforters When they were at the foot of the Ladder to that Tree which was presently to bear fruit to Eternal Life it was observed by some of the Murderers that knew the knack of it that the Halters were either too long or short or some fault which made the Executioner go and take them off whereupon the People that were Spectators of this bloudy Tragedy that stood at a distance and knew not the reason of their so doing conceiving that Fiennes had sent a Reprieve suddenly expressed their Joy by loud Acclamations but the deaths-man making his Fatal Instruments fast again and the Guards continuing still upon the place as if they were thunder-struck they stood still astonished and soon changed their Joy into Tears and Lamentations Being thus ready to be offered up as a Sacrifice to the implacable rage and malice of Fiennes and his fellow-Rebels Mr. Robert Yeomans first ascended the Ladder thence to reach his Crown of Martyrdom but before he went up he took care after the example of our Saviour to recommend his wife to his father in Law Mr. Yeomans in this addresse that he had left him a Legacy his VVife then great with child and eight small children the Eldest not able to put on his own Cloaths and so after many Embraces left him and set forward on his way to Heaven Being thus seated in that place of shame and disgrace as it is in its own nature where the Cause doth not change the accursed Tree into a Theatre of Honour and seeing himself made a Spectacle to that City wherein he had lived in plenty and Honour being Sheriffe but the Year before which Office he discharged with as much Magnificence and Bounty as any of his Predecessors And from that Prospect taking a view of many friends that could not well look through their Tears to see him again seeing also others of a far different temper that rejoyced in his sufferings amongst which was Robert Baugh one of the aforesaid Council of VVar in a most devilish cruelty stand jeering and mocking at him to his face here flesh and bloud interposed which transported him to an Expostulation bordering between Indignation and Submission saying Good God what have I done to be here but instantly sorry that humane Frailty should extort any thing from him unbeseeming the Justice of his Cause or the hardness of Christian resolution silencing the Suggestions of such evil Counsellors he composed himself to speak to the People Being weakned by long and many Sufferings he was not able to speak much or loud only as to clear himself from the imputation of an intent to have massacred all that adhered to the Parliament Laying his Hand upon his Breast and fixing his eyes on Heaven the Habitation of the God of Truth he made a solemn Protestation of his Innocency from any such thought and withal professed a firm perswasion of the Justice of that cause for which he suffered adding that if he had more Lives he would sacrifice them all to his Soveraign in that way While he was thus speaking Major Hercules Langrish since dead in Goal and extream want having before betrayed his Master the King in discovering his Majesties Coming to the House of Commons to demand the 5 Members who by that means had time to shift away and Clifton call upon the Executioner to hasten his work they interrupted Mr. Yeomans also and goaded him in the thighs with their Halberts bidding him to make an end for they were yet afraid of his rescue whereupon he desired the Witnesses of his suffering to sing with him the 130 Psalm which he sung with great Devotion and Fervency knowing that he should be presently translated out of Bochim the valley of Tears into that triumphant Quire where with Angels he should sing Hallelujah for evermore Having finished the Psalm and his Prayers and desired God not to charge his Bloud on that City and having prayed for his Persecuters charging his friends not to harbour any revengeful Thoughts against them and in the close of all beginning to defend his cause as words which would leave the deepest impression this Langrish and Clifton caused him to be thrown off the Ladder hardly affording him time to recommend his soul unto God Being thrown off and his Brother M. Haggat staying his Body that swung with the fall this Clifton gave the said Mr. Haggat such a Blow with his Cane that almost struck him to the ground Oh the barbarous Inhumanity of these Villains After Mr. Yeomans was thus executed without any resistance of the Citizens
Grace And this is certain the riches of his Grace he throweth amongst men that the Glory of his Grace might be given to himself if we can give him but the Glory of his Grace we shall never doubt to partake of the riches of it and that Fulness My Lord that fulness be your Comfort that fulness of Mercy that fulness of love that fulness of righteousness and power be now your riches and your only stay and the Lord interpose himself between God and you as your Faith hath endeavoured to interpose him between God and your soul so I doubt not there he stands my Lord to plead for you and when you are not able to do any thing your self yet lie down at the feet of him that is a merciful Saviour and knows what you would desire and wait upon him while you live trust in him when you die â—here is riches enough and mercy enough if he open not yet die at his door say there I 'le die there is Mercy enough Holland And here is the place where I lie down before him from whence I hope he will raise me to an eternal glory through my Saviour upon whom I relie from whom only I can expect Mercy into his Arms I commend my Spirit into his bleeding Arms that when I leave this bleeding body that must lie upon this place he will receive that Soul that ariseth out of it and receive it into his eternal mercy through the Merits through the worthiness through the Mediation of Christ that hath purchased it with his own most precious Bloud Bolton My Lord though you conclude here I hope you begin above and though you put an end here I hope there will never be an end of the Mercy and goodness of God and if this be the Morning of Eternity if this be the rise of Glory if God pleaseth to throw you down here to raise you up for ever say Welcome Lord welcome that death that shall make way for life and welcom any condition that shall throw me down here to bring me into the possession of Jesus Christ Hodges My Lord if you have made a Deed of Gift of your self to Jesus Christ to be found only in him I am confident you shall stand at the day of Christ my dear Lord we shall meet in happiness Holland Christ Jesus receive my soul my soul hungers thirsts after him clouds are gathering and I trust in God through all my heaviness and I hope through all impediments he will settle my Interest in him and throw off all the claim that Satan can make unto it and that he will carry my soul in despight of all the calumnies and all that the Devil and Satan can invent will carry it into eternal mercy there to receive the blessedness of his Presence to all Eternity Hodges My Lord it was his own by creation it is his own now by Redemption and purchase and it is likewise his own by resignation O my Lord look therefore up to the lamb of God that sits at the right hand of God to take away the sins of the world O that lamb of God! Holland That Lamb of God into his hands I commit my soul And that Lamb of God that sits upon the Throne to judge those 24 that fall down before him I hope he will be pleased to look downward and judge me with mercy that fall down before him and that adore him that only trusts upon his Mercy for his compassion and that as he hath purchased me he would lay his claim unto me now and receive me Bolton My Lord think of this there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ who is it that can condemn it is Christ that justifies and therefore look now upon this My Lord upon this Christ upon this Christ that justifies Hell Death Sin Satan nothing shall be able to condemn it is Christ that justifies you Holland Indeed if Christ justifie no body can condemn and I trust in God in his justification though there is a confusion here without us and though there are wonders and staring that now disquiet yet I trust that I shall be carried into that mercy that God will receive my Soul Bolton I doubt not my Lord but as you are a Spectacle of Pitty here so you are on Object of Gods mercy above Holland Then the Earl of Holland looking over among the People pointing to a Souldier said This honest man took me a Prisoner you little thought I should have been brought to this when I delivered my self to you upon conditions and espying Captain Watson on horse-back putting off his hat said to him God be with you Sir God reward you Sir Bolton My Lord throw your self into the arms of mercy and say there I will Anchor and there I will die he is a Saviour for us in all conditions whither should we go he hath the words of eternal life and upon him do you rest wait while you live and even trust in Death Holland Here must now be my Anchor a great storm makes me find my Anchor and but in storms no body trusts to his Anchor and therefore I must trust upon my Anchor Upon that God said Mr. Bolton Upon whom your Anchor trusts yeâ— God I hope will Anchor my Soul fast upon Christ Jesus and if I die not with that clearnesse and heir inesse that you speak of truly I will trust in God though he kill me I will relie upon him and in the Mercy of my Saviour Bolton There is mercy enough my Lord and to spare you shall not need to doubt they shall never go begging to another door my Lord that come to him Then the Earl of Holland speaking to Mr. Hodges said I pray God reward you for all your kindness and pray as you have done instruct my Family that they may serve God with faithfulness and holiness with more diligence than truly I have been careful to presse them unto you have the charge of the same place you may do much for them and I recommend them to your kindnesse and the goodnesse of your Conscience Dr. Sibbald standing upon the Scaffold in his passage to Col. Beecher expressed himself thus to his Lordship Dr. Sibbald The Lord lift up the light of his Countenance upon you and you shall be safe Holland Then the Earl of Holland embraced Lieutenant Col. Beecher and took his leave of him After which he came to Mr. Bolton and having embraced him and returned him many thanks for his great pains and affections to his Soul desiring God to reward him and return his love into his bosom Mr. Bolton said to him The Lord God support you and be seen in this great extremity the Lord reveal and discover himself to you and make your death the passage unto eternal life Then the Earl of Holland turning to the Executioner said here my friend let my Cloathes and my Body alone there is Ten pounds for thee that is better than
the Church of England I have no negative Religion believing to be saved by the onely merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ putting off his Hat and whatsoever else is profest in the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England authorized by Law humbly beseeching Almighty God to restore unto this Church her Peace Prosperity and Patrimony whereof I have been an obedient and a loving however an unworthy Son And now both my Hope being confident and my Faith perfected there remains onely Christian Charity Charity we carry into heaven Charitie on Earth and that I leave beseeching all whomsoever I have offended whether I have or no to forgive me as I from the bottom of my heart do them whomsoever blessing Almighty God for the happy advantage he takes to bring me nearer to heaven blessing Almighty God that he hath given me this advantage as he hath been merciful to me before the foundation of the world in my Saviour so that now he hath in mercy honoured me with suffering for his Name in obedience to his Commandment On this day seven night I was summon'd before that Justice which condemned me on Friday last praised be Almightie God that by this way he hath brought me the nearer to himself putting off his hat My Charge I presume is publick as my punishment is visible if there have been any thing in the management of my part being unskilful having discontinued my own Countrie many years I shall beseech the Christian charity of all you my beloved Country-men to impute it unto the right part the ignorance that is in this skilful way of managing It was objected unto me there that I had a vanitie of delighting in strange Tongues I was best skill'd in the Italian but free from that vanity I thank Almightie God and therefore I would in defence of my life if it had been the Custom here or the Judges favour have used that Language It was objected That I did not so freely as a thorow-paced Cavalier own my Master I was told since I came into England for other skill I have not in your Laws that a legal Denial in Law might be tolerable I hope I did not exceed the bounds of that in any thing for God forbid that I should be ashamed of serving so good so pious so just a Master putting off his hat for that I therein rejoyce and I humbly beseech Almightie God to fill my heart and my tongue and all that hear me this day with thankfulness for it As to the business that another construction had been made and believed here then what was there the righteous God knoweth it if any weakness was in the management that was mine I was sent to serve and protect not to in jure any and as God acquits me of the intention in matter of Fact as having done any manner of evil that way however here understood blessed be his holy Name putting off his hat so those Gentlemen of the Turkey Company if they would seriously consider for they know it very well the impossibilitie of my doing them any manner of harm Whereas that of the Embassie objected against me that my Master never honoured me with all I was never worthy of it I was his Messenger an Internuncia for the conservation only of his good Subjects of all the Merchants until such time as he could confirm that Gentleman now Resident or to send any other and they themselves know that there was impossibility in me as I bless God there was an innocency in me unto any such intention to do them any harm for my Masters Commands were point-blank the contrary I was onely sent for their good as I never owned the Title so the very Letters themselves speaking no other I never did so much as think of any manner of Address unto the Grand Seigniour but gave him the Letter from my Master the rest of the English Nation that were there present may when they please assert so much This I would insert That those Gentlemen as they have been losers by the miscarriages of others may now have no breach of their charity with me but if it be as it seems it is now in this Country a Sin to be Loyal I hope my God hath forgiven that when it is upon harmless employment not invading any according to his just Masters Order for indeed I have bin alwais bred up in that Religion my Allegiance hath been incorporated into my Religion and I have thought it a great part of the service due from me to Almighty God to serve the King putting off his Hat I need not make any Apology for any thing in relation to the present things in England for were I as I spake before my Judges as evil as my Sentence hath made me black it were impossible for me to have prejudiced any body in England or to England belonging in that employment but I bless God for his infinite mercy in Jesus Christ putting off his Hat who hath brought me home to him here in this way it was the best Physick for the curing of my Soul and those that have done it have no more power then that of my body I leave nothing behind me but that I am willing to part withal all that I am going to is desireable And that you may all know that Almighty God hath totally wrought in me a total Denial of my self and that there is that perfect Reformation of me within and of my own corruption by the blessed assistance of his holy Spirit I desire Almighty God in the abundance of the bowels of his mercy in Jesus Christ not only to forgive every Enemy if any such be in the World here or wheresoever but to bring him into his Bosom so much good and particular comfort as he may at any time whether the Cause were just or unjust have wished me any manner of evil for I take him to be the happy instrument of bringing me to Heaven It is tedious but I have an inward comfort I bless Almighty God pray Gentlemen give me leave speaking to some that prest upon him I should never do it but to give satisfaction to all charitable hearts I have been troublesome Sheriff You have your liberty to speak more if you please Sir Henry Hide But as to that part Master Sheriff that did concern the Denial as it was affirmed by Master Attorney General of my Masters employment Truly landing at Whitehall I told that Council there was just Commissions to an old Officer by the blessing of God I have by me and I have other good things that God hath blessed me withall more then all the good Christians in the World that are not the Grand Seigniour's Slaves And we that are Merchants abroad we allow our selves any sufferance that may conduce to our own safety enlargement of Trade or preservation of what is ours Why I had by the grace of my gracious Master a confirmation of my old Commission of Consulage in Greece But
bitter Cup which by the triumphant malice and revenge of his enemies was given him bâ—im full to drink But that which chiefly conduced to the quiet and composure of his spirit was the lense and acknowledgement of Gods determination and good pleasure in the disposing of him and bringing into that sad condition which he meekly and humbly underwent submitting to that hand which so afflicted him And questionless great was that heavenly support which God ministred unto him many the alterations of those contumelies intended against him as we may see in the time and in his way to his Execution of which I shall say no more but onely insert an omission in the black cribunal and which I had from unquestionable credit that the souldiers themselves who were upon the Scaffold could not refrain from weeping but shed rears abundantly and that this other passage also that having laid down his head and given the sign the Executioner being not ready he lift up his head again and with a soul-piercing accent said to the Headsman Thou hast done me a great deal of wrong thus to disturb and delay my bliss and then submitted it to the fatal stroke and was received into glory A true Copy of the Speech of the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby upon the Scaffold at Bolton in Lancashire together with his Deportment and Prayer before his death on Wednesday the 15. day of October 1651. THe Earl of Derby according to the order of the Court-Marshal held at Chester by which he was sentenced to die at Bolton in Lancashire was brought to that Town with a Guard of Horse Foot of Col. Jones's commanded by one Southley who received his Order from Col. Robert Duckeâ—field betwixt 12 and 1 of the clock on Wednesday the 15 of October the people weeping praying and bewailing him all the way from the Prison at Chester to the place of his death He was brought to a House in the Town near the Crosse where the Scaffold was raised and as he passed by said VENIO DOMINE I am prepared to fulfil thy will O my God this Scaffold must be my Cross Blessed Saviour I take it up willingly and follow thee From thence going into a Chamber with some Friends and servants he was advertised by the Commander in Chief that he had till three a clock allowed him to prepare for death for indeed the Scaffold was not ready the people of the Town Country generally refusing to carry so much as a plank or strike a nail or to lend any assistance to that work their cry being generally in the streets O sad day O woful day shall the good Earl of Derby die here Many sad losses have we had in this War but none like unto this for now the Ancient Honour of our Country must suffer here And to add to his trouble most of the Timber that built the Scaffold was of the ruines of Latham-House but nothing could alter his Lordships resolution and courage for with a stedfast composed countenancy and a chearful he called the company which were present to prayers with him wherein he shewed admirable servence and a kind of humble importunity with Almighty God that he would pardon his sins be merciful to his Soul and be gracious to this Land in restoring the King Laws and Liberty and that he would be a Husband to his Wife a Father to his Children and a Friend to all those that suffered by his Losse or that had been Friends to him Rising from prayer he sat down with a very pleasant countenance and assured the standers by that God had heard his prayers which the blessed Spirit of God witnessed unto him in the present Comforts he now felt in his Soul Then he entered into a discourse of his life and beseecht God to forgive him the dayes and time he had mis-pent and said it was his Comfort that although he had not walked so circumspectly as he ought to have done yet he ever had a sense of his sins and a tender respect to all the Services Servants and Ordinances of his God and that he knew God had mercy for him that he had strengthened and comforred him against all the terrours of death After these and some other words to this purpose he desired his Friends and the people by to pray with him again which when he had ended rising from his knees he appeared fully satisfied of a gracious return to his prayers and never after shewed any sadness in his countenance His next business was with his Son the Lord Strange whom he publiquely charged to be dutiful to his sad Mother affectionate to his distressed Brothers and Sisters and studious of the Peace of his Country But especially said he Son I charge you upon my blessing and upon the Blessings you expect from God to be ever dutiful to your distressed Mother ever obedient to her Commands and ever tender how you in any thing grieve or offend her She is a Person well known to the most eminent Personages of England France Germany and Holland noted for Piety Prudence and all Honourable Vertues and certainly the more you are obedient to here the more you will encrease in favour with God and Man Then desired to be private in the room himself where he was observed to be about half an hour upon his knees with frequent interjections of groans and sighs before his God Then when he called the company in again his eyes witnessed to us that he had abundantly mixed Tears with his Prayers he told us that he was very willing to leave the World bering assured by the Testimony of Gods Spiit that he should be carried from Troube to Rest and Peace from Sorrow to Joy from Life to Death and that Death had no other bitterness in it to him but that it took him from his dear Wife and Children whom he humbly commended to the Protection and Providence of a better Husband and a better Father and that he did not doubt but that the General and they who sat in the Seat of Authority would make provision for them hoping that his death might satisfie all those who sought his life whom he freely forgave and desired God to do the like Then calling for his Son he took his leave of him and blessed him which indeed would have grieved any ones heart though never so hardened to see the parting of him now with his Son and with his two Daughters the Lady Katherine and the Lady Amely Stanley upon the Road betwixt Chester and Bolton the day before This ended he called the Officer and told him he was ready In his way to the Scaffold the people prayed and wept and cryed aloud to whom his Lordship with a chearful countenance and courteous humbleness said Good people I thank you and I beseech you still pray for me and our blessed God return your prayers back into your own bosomes The God of Mercies blesse you the Son of God establish you in
reason to have expected the Council would have justified my Plea which hath been Ancient Honourable Sacred and Vnviolable until this time that I am made the first suffering Precedent for 1 dare affirm it that never Gentleman before in any Christian Nation was adjudged to death by a Council of War after quarter given I am the first and I pray God I may be the last Precedent in this caâ—e I must die and I thank God I am ready for it Death would now be my choice had I the whole world in competition with it I leave nothing behind me which I much care for but my King my Wife my Children my Friends whom I trust the never-failing mercies of my God will provide for I beseech God shew mercy to those who neither had mercy nor justice for me My blessed Saviour taught him by his example and command both to pray for my enemies and to forgive my enemies I forgive them freely even those that contrived my ruine and pursued to death I thank God never persinally offended them to my knowledge in my life and let me not offend against them at my death I forgive them freely and pray God for Christs sake to forgive them also Of my Faith and Religion I shall not hope need to say much herein I hope my enemies if now I have any will speak for me I profess my faith to be in God onely from whom I look for my salvation through the precious merits and sufferings of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ which merits and sufferings are applied to my soul by the blesâ—ed spirit of comfort the Spirit of God by whom I am assured in my own Soul that my God is reconciled unto me in Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer I die a dutiful son the Church of England as it was established in that blessed Prince my late Masters Reign which all my of learning and temperance will acknowledge to be the most pure and agreable to the Word of God and primitive Government of any Church within 12. or 1300. years since Christ and which to my great comfort I left established in the Isle of Man God preserve it there and restore it to this Nation And O blessed God I magnifie thy Name that thou gavest me the happinesse and mercy to be born in a Christian Nation and in a Nation where thy truth was professed in purity With honour to thy Name and comfort to thy people I ascribe the comforts of the Holy Spirit which I feel in my bosome to the Ministry of thy Word and Sacraments conveyed unto me in thy Church and made effectual by the operation of the same blessed Spirit In this faith good people I have lived and in this I die pray for me I beseech you and the God of mercies hear your prayers and my prayers for mine and your salvation Presently after the tumult was over Here his Lordship began to speak again his Lordship called for the Headsman and asked to see the Axe and taking it in his hand said Friend I will not hurt it and I am sure it cannot hurt me and then kissing it said Methinks this is as a Wedding Ring which is as a sign I am to leave all the VVorld and eternally to be married to my Saviour Then putting his hand in his pocket said to the Headsman Here Friend take these two pieces all that I have thou must be my Priest I pray thee do thy work well and effectually Then handling the rough furr'd coat the Headsman had on This says he will be troublesome to thee I pray thee put it off and do it as willingly as I put off this garment of my flesh that is now so heavy for my soul then some of the standers by bid the Heads-man kneel and ask his Lordship pardon but he did not but was surly and crabbed but his Lordship said Friend I give thee the pardon thou wilt not ask and God forgive thee also Then turning up his eyes to heaven said aloud How long Lord how long then gently passing over the Scaffold and seeing one of his Chaplains on horseback among the people Good Sir said he pray for me and the Lord return your prayers into your own bosome and I pray remember me kindly to your Brother and God remember him for his love to me and mine Then turning towards his Coffin Thou art said he my bridal Chamber in thee I shall rest without a guard and sleep without souldiers Then looking towards the block he asked if all were ready That said he methinks is very low and yet there is but one step betwixt that and heaven then turning his eyes to the people he saluted them and desired again their prayers then said I see your tears and hear your sighs and groans and prayers the God of heaven hear and grant your supplications for me and mine for you and the Mediation of Christ Jesus for us all Here his Lordship caused the block to be turned that he might look upon the Church saying Whilst I am here I will look towards thy holy Sanctuary and I know that within a few minutes I shall behold thee my God and King in thy Sanctuary above under the shadow of thy wings shall be my rest till this calamity be overpast then he pulled off his blew garter and sent it to his Son and pulling off his doublet with a very religious chearfulness he said I come Lord Jesus and O come thou quickly that I may be with thee for ever upon this he said Pray tell me how must I lie I have been called a bloody man yet truly I never yet had that severe curiositie to see any put to death in peace then laying himself down on the block after a few minutes he rose again and caused the block to be a little removed then said to the Headsman Friend remember what I said to thee and be no more afraid to strike then I to die and when I put up my hand do thy work so looking round about his friends and the people he said The Lord blesse you all and once more pray for me and with me at which words he kneeled down and prayed privately within himself with great sighings about half a quarter of an hour concluding with the Lords Prayer then rising up again he said smilingly My soul is now at rest and so shall my body be immediately The Lord bless my King and restore him to his right in this Kingdom and the Lord bless this Kingdom and restore them to their rights in their King that he and they may joyn hand in hand to settle truth and peace and the Lord bless this County and this Town and this People The Lord comfort my sad wife and children and reward all my friends with peace and happinesse both here and hereafter and the Lord forgive them who were the cause and authors of this my sad end and unjust death for so it is as to mankind though before God I deserve
much enlarged by Dr. R. Read The Queen of Arragon a Play in Folio In Quarto Large Jo. Barkley his Argenis Translated by Sr. Robert le Grise Knight by his Late Majesties special Command with Figures or without Quarto small An Experimental Treatise of Surgery by Felix Wortz Abrahams Faith or the good Old Religion c. by John Nicholson Minister of the Gospel The Anatomy of Mortality by George Stroud Attersols three Treatises Universal Husbandry improved or divers rare and choyce Experiments and Secrets in Husbandry Gardening and Planting with divers Rarities of Gabriel Plat and others by Sam. Hartlib Aynsworth on the Cantic Gralle against Appolonius A Treatise of Civil Policy c. By Sam. Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St. Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military Observations of Civil and Military Government containing the Birth Encrease Decay of Monarchies the Carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr. Pinchin his Meritorious Price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what Nature and Influence the Stars and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Wells his Souls Progress Christ tempted the Devil conquered Being a plain Exposition on the Fourth Chapter of St. Matthews Gospel By John Gumbleden Minister of the Gospel The Saints Society D. Stoughtons thirteen choyce Sermons with his Body of Divinity The Reasons of the dissenting Brethren concerning the Presbyterian Government together with the Answer of the Assembly of Divines The Doctrine of mans Redemption by Edward Holioke Of the Doctrine of the Church of England sweetly harmonizing with the Confessions of Faith of all the Protestant Reformed Churches The Philosophical Touchstone or Observations upon Sr. Kenelme Digby's Discourses of the Nature of Bodies and of the reasonable Soul by Alexander Ross The Saints Triangles of Dangers deliverances and Duties by Nathanael Whiting Minister of the Gospel The Confession of Faith of all the Congregational Churches of England agreed upon at the Savoy 1659. An History of Angels being a Treatise of our Communion and War with them by Henry Lawrence The Description of the Universal Quadrant c. by Tho. Stirrup Mathem The whole Art of Drawing Painting Limning and Etching collected out of the choycest Italian and German Authors by Alex. Brown Practitioner Several Pieces of Mr. Edward Bagshaw Student of Christs-Church 1. Exercitationes duae de Presbyt Episcop 2. A Discourse of Christ and Antichrist 3. Signs of the Times or Prognosticks of Future Judgments with the way how to prevent them Large Octavo A Treatise of the Divine Promises by Edw. Liegh Esquire The Rights of the Crown of England as it is established by Law by Edward Bagshaw Esquire of the Inner Temple Florus Anglious with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the Conquest cut in brass The Life and Reign of King Charls from his Birth to his Dâ—th bp Lambert Wood. The Night-search the second part by H. Mill. A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Useful Instructions for these Evil times held forth in Twenty two Sermons bp Nicholas Lockier Provost of Eaton Colledge The Nâ—llity of Church-Censures or Excommunication not of Divine Institution but a meer humane Invention Written by the Famous Tho. Erastus and never before Englished Merry Drollery in two Parts being a Collection of Jovial Poems Merry Songs and Witty Drolleries intermixt with pleasan Catches Small Octavo Edw. Waterhouse Esquire His Discourse of Piety and Charity Panacea or the Universal Medicine being a Discourse of the admirable Nature Vertues of Tobacco by Dr. Everard and others A View and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very useful in these times Mr. Pet. du Moulin his Antidore against Popery published on purpose to prevent the Delusions of the Priests and Jesuits who are now very busie among us Vinditiae Gratiae Sacramentalis duobus Tractatulis comprehensae 1. De Efficacia Sacramentorum in genere 2 De Efficacia Baptismi quantum ad parvulos quibus praesigitur Epistola Reverendissimi Patris Johannis Davenanti nuper Episcopi Sarisburiensis Dr. R. Record his Urinal of Physick Rare Verities or the Cabinet of Venus unlockt and her Secrets laid open Ovid de Ponto in English The Loves of Clerrio Lozio a Romance Herberts Devotions Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the Reign of William the Conqueror to the death of the Late King Lingua or the Combate of the Tongue and five senses for superiority a serious Comedy acted by Oliver Cromwel the Late Usurper The Spirits Touchstone being a clear Discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The poor mans Physitian and Chyrurgion now Printing Physical Rarities containing the most choyce Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery for the cure of all Diseases Incident to mans Body by R. VVilliams To which is added the Physical Mathematicks by Hermes Tris-megistus The Idol of Clowns or the Relation of VVat Tylers Rebellion The Raconian Catechism in English The Life of that incomparable man Faustus Socinus Senensis described by a Polonian Knight The Golden Fleece or a Discourse of the Cloathing of England Dr. Sibbs his Divine Meditations Vigerius Precepts of Idiotismes Grotii Poemata Three Books of M. Matthews Minister at Swansey in South-Wales Duodecimo Dr. Smiths Practise of Physick Proverbs English French Dutch Italian and Spanish all Englished and Alphabetically digested The London Distiller or the whole Art of Distillations laid open Fryer Bacon his Discovery of the Miracles of Art Nature and Magick The Grammar War Posselius Apothegmes Fasciculus Florum Crashaws Visions The Juniper Lecture Helvicus Colloquies The torments of Hell shaken or a discourse with many proofs shewing that there not is a punishment after this Life for any to endure that shall never end by Sam. Richardson The understanding Christians duty often to commemorate the death and Passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus with the necessary preparatives thereunto The Christian Souldier his Combat with the three Arch Enemies of Mankind the World the Flesh and the Devil Seasonable Advice to the Apprentices of the Honourable City of London touching their duty to God and their Masters Heinsius de Crepundiis The History of Russia or the Government of the Emperour of Muscovia with the Manner and Fashions of the People of that Countrey Drexelius his School of Patience Drexelius his right Intention of every ones Action A School or Nurture for Children or the Duty of Children to Parents very useful for all that intend to bring up their Children in the Fear of God A Help to Prayer being the duty of every man and Woman that intends to be saved Viginti Quarto The New Testament The third Part of the Bible Sr. Richard Bakers Meditations and Prayers for every day of the Week All the Works of that Great and Glorious Monarch and Martyr King Charles the first Collected into one Volumn The London Chanticleers a Play